Updated top break .22 rimfire

[Muley Gil]

I once had a Model 1 1/2 in .32 S&W. It was a fun gun to shoot, but it seemed like that round would just barely go through a coke can. It felt great in the hand, but was too underpowered.

A version in .22 Long Rifle, with an extra cylinder in .22 Magnum, would be a great little plinker.

 

[steelslaver]

Top breaks are a lot of fun. Firing and working them to eject etc.

I have a several 32s and a 44 Russian. Reload for both.

22, 32long, 38 & 44 special models would all be great, especially with improved sights. But, I don't know if they would really sell in the current market with lots of semi auto and side swing revolvers. Plus the cost of manufacturing them might be high. Things ike the Scoffield reproduction models, reproduction Luger all sell for thousands.

You can find 32s, both SA and DA fairly cheap. Get one, reload for it and plink away. As long as it rolls the can, holes the paper who really cares.
The 38S&W models have real power as do the 44s.

 

[mmaher94087]

A friend is trying to reverse engineer a Model #2 Army and beef it up to shoot S&W .32 long. I think he'll be 130 by the time he's ready to turn on his mill though.

 

[steelslaver]

Just a thought,
Line a 32 top break barrel
Sleeve the cylinder and chamber to 22lr
Relocate the firing pin a little bit
Hard part would be redoing the ejector.

But, after thinking about it I don't see why someone couldn't produce a replica. Lots of companies did something similar to S&W top breaks during the day.

It would be a blast to shoot. I have some fun with my little 32s.

 

[Muley Gil]

Just a thought,
Line a 32 top break barrel
Sleeve the cylinder and chamber to 22lr
Relocate the firing pin a little bit
Hard part would be redoing the ejector.

But, after thinking about it I don't see why someone couldn't produce a replica. Lots of companies did something similar to S&W top breaks during the day.

It would be a blast to shoot. I have some fun with my little 32s.

That's what I've been kicking around for a while. I don't know where they are hiding, but I haven't run into a doggy .32 top break since I started looking for one.

 

[steelslaver]

I have gotten a some off Gunbroker for under $200, 2 hammerless double actions and 2 single action spur triggers. I think if I did this mod I would look for a regular double action though. I picked up a bunch of 32 short brass and have a 32 mold and reloading them don't take much. but now that 22 are available again it would be more fun to have one in 22. Lets not bid against each other on a donor gun.

I don't think sleeving a cylinder for this would be hard. Ream existing chambers as much as possible. Make some tubes with very slightly over sized OD and id reamed to 7/32 (.21875). Heat cylinder and cool tubes and insert. Trim flush with cylinder then ream with a 22lr reamer.

The star is going to be the hassle. Either machine off most of the current star then machine a piece to silver solder to it or tig weld up each of the shell cuts in an extractor and work from there. I gave this some thought when thinking of making a K frame 38 cylinder into a 32. A topbreak 32 to 22 should be easier.

 

[steelslaver]

I am away from home working right now, but have bought 2 top break 32 for low $ off Gunbroker so I am going to be trying to do a 22 lr conversion.

 

[BigBill]

To get a top break revolver in 22 caliber I purchased a H&R revolver.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Having a converted old S&W DA 32 top break would be the cats meow but is beyond my means.
Both H&R and Iver Johnson made 22 RF top breaks. The early models are very similar in size to the smaller S&Ws. That would be the cheapest route to go.
Guns with the rectangular cylinder notch are made specifically for smokeless powder use and preferable to the older BP guns with free wheeling cylinders and triangular cylinder notch. On these type the cylinder only locks up when the trigger is depressed.

John

 

[BigBill]

A friend is trying to reverse engineer a Model #2 Army and beef it up to shoot S&W .32 long. I think he'll be 130 by the time he's ready to turn on his mill though.

Give him some files, a hammer, some chisels and plenty of coffee I’m sure he can do it.

When Dirty Harrys 44 mag was hard to get my cousin asked the whole saler if I give you $1,000 you’d get me one? Now imagine the old wholesaler with his Jewish broken English accent he says I’ve make you one.